"Busan Schweitzer" Ahn Cheol-soo's Father's Funeral Draws Political and Business Leaders' Condolences... "A Lifelong Advocate for the Underprivileged"

On the 20th, a funeral hall was set up for the late Ahn Young-mo, former director of Beomcheon Clinic and father of Ahn Cheol-soo, chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee, at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The late Ahn Young-mo, who passed away at the age of 92, was known as the "doctor of the common people" in the underdeveloped areas of Busan and is said to have lived a life of giving throughout his life. Photo by the Transition Committee Press Photographers Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] From noon on the 20th, a steady stream of political, business, and academic figures have been paying their respects at the funeral hall of Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where the condolence room for the late father of Ahn Cheol-soo, Chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee, has been set up.

Ahn’s father, the late Ahn Young-mo, former director of Beomcheon Clinic, graduated from Seoul National University College of Medicine and served as a military doctor before opening Beomcheon Clinic in the shantytown of Beomcheon-dong, Busan, in 1963. For 49 years until 2012, he provided medical treatment to ordinary people at half price or free of charge, earning him the nickname "the Schweitzer of Busan."

Mr. Ahn recently passed away on the 19th due to a worsening of his chronic illness after testing positive for COVID-19. Chairman Ahn, the chief mourner, will not attend the transition committee office during the funeral period until the 22nd and will stay at the condolence room.

At the Seoul National University Hospital funeral hall, condolence wreaths and condolence ribbons sent from President Moon Jae-in, President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, as well as from political, academic, and business circles, have been arranged even before the start of the condolence visits.

Even before the condolence visits began, a procession of political and business figures continued. Former People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won and fellow party member Park Deok-heum visited the condolence room and paid their respects. At 11:34 a.m. that day, former lawmaker Na spoke to reporters after paying respects, saying, "Chairman Ahn was very saddened by the news that his father passed away due to COVID-19," and added, "I offered my condolences and told him, 'It must be difficult to go through hardships during such a busy time.'"

Preliminary candidates for the governor of Gyeonggi Province from both ruling and opposition parties also visited the condolence room to pray for the deceased. Kim Eun-hye, a People Power Party lawmaker and candidate for Gyeonggi governor, and former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min visited around 12:30 p.m. Kim said, "While praying for the deceased, since he was a person who lived a life of sharing throughout his life, we will also inherit and practice that spirit." Yoo added, "Chairman Ahn is currently in the middle of the transition committee, and having to face such a great loss, I think he must be carrying a lot of pain and burden while fulfilling his duties, so I offered my separate condolences."

Kim Dong-yeon, the Democratic Party’s preliminary candidate for Gyeonggi governor, said after paying respects, "(The deceased) was called the Schweitzer of Busan because he devoted his life to medical volunteer work for the disadvantaged and struggling people in the local community," and added, "Chairman Ahn expressed his gratitude to me and hoped for good results."

Senior national figures also visited the condolence room. Former Speaker of the National Assembly Kim Hyung-o recalled, "Chairman Ahn is excellent, but his father was also a very remarkable person who was respected by many in his hometown Busan." He added, "This election was not an easy one to win; it was very close, but Chairman Ahn dramatically unified the candidacy and narrowly won."

Prime Minister nominee Han Duck-soo said, "I simply bowed my head and said, 'You must be very saddened,' and left," only commenting briefly. Kim Han-gil, chairman of the National Unity Committee, told reporters after paying respects, "How can I express the sorrow of losing the deceased?" and said, "I spoke about how he was ill and how he struggled before passing away."

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said, "I have heard for a long time that the deceased was highly respected and loved by many in the Busan area and practiced medical skills," and added, "Although I did not have a long conversation with Chairman Ahn, the feelings of a child sending off a parent are all the same. I told him, 'At times like this, send him off well and stay strong.'"

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum is paying his respects at the funeral hall of Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where the late Ahn Young-mo, father of Ahn Cheol-soo, Chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee, and former director of Beomcheon Clinic, is lying in repose. April 20, 2022. Photo by Transition Committee Press Corps. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min is consoling Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo of the Presidential Transition Committee after paying respects at the funeral hall of Ahn Young-mo, former director of Beomcheon Clinic and father of Chairman Ahn, set up at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 20th. Photo by Transition Committee Press Corps [Image source=Yonhap News]

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong visited the funeral hall of former Beomcheon Clinic Director Ahn Young-mo, father of Ahn Cheol-soo, Chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee, set up at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 20th. After paying his respects, he greeted Chairman Ahn and the bereaved family. Photo by the Transition Committee Press Corps [Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee Cheol-hee, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Blue House, also visited the condolence room and said, "I conveyed condolences on behalf of President Moon Jae-in."

Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, after paying respects, told reporters, "Chairman Ahn seems to be deeply shocked by the loss of his father, whom he always respected greatly. I express my sincere condolences and respect for the deceased," and added, "Since Chairman Ahn declared the merger with our party, we will work harder together as one family to become a party loved by the people."

Leading figures in the business community, including Sohn Kyung-shik, chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, also visited the condolence room to pay tribute to the deceased.

President-elect Yoon is also scheduled to visit Chairman Ahn’s father’s condolence room. According to transition committee officials, President-elect Yoon will visit the condolence room in the late afternoon after finishing his regional schedule.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.